Witnesses Intro
The testimony of the Three and Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon is a key part to the testimonies of many members of the Church. Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. As a missionary, I was instructed to teach investigators about the testimonies of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon as part of boosting the book’s credibility.
CES Letter, Page 86
Despite the attempt of the The CES Letter to character assassinate the Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, it is a fact that none of them ever denied their testimonies of what they experienced.
The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses reported different experiences, which makes their testimonies even more credible.
The Three Witnesses reported spiritual experiences including an angelic visitation. The Eight Witnesses recounted a primarily physical experience of feeling and hefting the gold plates.
Many of the witnesses later left the Church but that did not cause them to deny what they had earlier affirmed. Besides the eleven witness, Other individuals saw and felt the plates, and left their testimonies.
Paul taught “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” ( 2 Corinthians 13:1).
Additional Resources:
FAIRMORMON: Book of Mormon Witnesses
Podcasts:
Faith and Reason 39: Hidden Records, Michael R. Ash
Faith and Reason 7: Book of Mormon Witnesses, Michael R. Ash
Mormon FAIR-Cast 150: The Apostasy of the Witnesses, Martin Tanner
Mormon FAIR-Cast 150: The Apostasy of the Witnesses,
Videos:
pt 1 Book of Mormon Witnesses and the Restoration
pt 2 Book of Mormon Witnesses and the Restoration
pt 1, Tangible Restoration: The Witnesses and What They Experienced 2006 FAIR Conference address
pt 2, Tangible Restoration: The Witnesses and What They Experienced 2006 FAIR Conference address
pt 3, Tangible Restoration: The Witnesses and What They Experienced 2006 FAIR Conference address
pt 4, Tangible Restoration: The Witnesses and What They Experienced 2006 FAIR Conference address
pt 5, Tangible Restoration: The Witnesses and What They Experienced 2006 FAIR Conference address
pt 1, The Cowdery Controversies
pt 2, The Cowdery Controversies
pt 3, The Cowdery Controversies
pt 4, The Cowdery Controversies
Tangible Restoration: The Eye Witnesses of The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon Witnesses: Evidence for The Book of Mormon
Articles:
Book of Mormon Witnesses, Part 1: Motives (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Witnesses, Part 2: Oliver Cowdery (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Witnesses, Part 3: Martin Harris (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Witnesses, Part 4: David Whitmer (PFD) by Michael Ash
Explaining Away the Book of Mormon Witnesses (2004 FAIR Conference) by Richard L. Anderson
The Cowdery Controversies (PDF) (2007 FAIR Conference) by Larry Morris
The Testimony of Eight by Scott Gordon